Car-unloading apparatus



gy Maw@ Mae f G N SIMPSON CAR UNLOADING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27

ug. M, i923.

reame Aug.- 14,1923.

NITED .l l intacte an ernten.,

GEORGE N. SIMPSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T WOOD EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS. i

i CAB-UNLOADING APPARATUS.

provements in lCar-Unloading. Apparatus,e

of which the' following is a speclcation.

This invention relates to improvementsin car unloading apparatus and more especial'- ly to certain improvements in connection 'A with a rotating car dump for controllinggatrain of cars in such a manner that one or more of them may be overturned and 'unloaded in each operation of the dumping;

device to discharge their contents. l 'a well .known form of apparatus known as a rotary car dump there 1s providedja cylindric structure adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, with rails in its lower part' to receive a loaded car or cars and an opening in its upperv part so that'as the cars are passed through the structure, eitherk one at a time or in trips of two or more,`the cars may be overturned to' discharge their4 contents into a hopper, bin or other receptacle.

In connection. with this form of apparatus I have devised an improved means for handling a train of cars in such manner thatthey may be passed through-the dum as expeditiously as possible for unloa mg,

" .it being designed further that the proper `moving, stopping and starting of the cars:A shall be entirely controlled' by automatlc de-- vices which are operated `by the movement 35 ofthe rotating dump, thus effecting a `sav-y ing in time and labor.

complete apparatus .embodying the principles of the invention is illustrated in kthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the apparatus in side elevation.

Figures 2 and view in side elevation on a larger scaley showing the details of themechanism.

"Figures ,3 and 3^ together are a, similar complete view showing the same parts 1n 'togvplain j lgurej is a' transverse vertical section fon the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a similar section on lthe line ,5--5 of Figure 3^. l

As hown in said drawings, the rotating cardum comprises anlop'en ended horiaantal cy indric structure l, which is jour--` b5 aaled ou rollers or wheels to adapt it to m-f:

,andv leading to the dump -incline and than the section of track 3. Likewise, leading from .the

`rest and hold the `2**together are a completer ended rod,

application med February er, wie. serial no, arenas,

tatev about a horizontal axis. In the lower"` .part of the structure is built a track, 3, to receive the loaded cars, and means not here shown are provided for rotating the cylinder about its axis to overturn the cars sidewise and to return them to their upright position after their unloading; the contents oflthe cars, in the overturning operation, belng discharged through the open upper part ofthe structure. These parts ofthe apparatus as here shown are made in accordance with .well known rinciples of construction and their partlcu ar design or construction is no necessary part of the present invention.

For the proper movement of the cars through the dump in the unloading operation, the section of track, 3, within the rotatinigfrom its receiving end to its discharge end, y is a fixed section of approachA track, 6, which is also on an preferably of a steeper grade discharge end of the dump is a fixed section of receiving track, 10, to carry awa the empty cars; so that except as control ed by the devices-hereinafter described the cars mayenter the dump, pass through 1t, and beyond it, 'entirel by gravity.

At the foot of the inc ine 6 and immediately 1n advance of the receiving end of the dump 1' there is fixed to the'tra'ckv rails a pair of automatic horns or stops, 20, to arloaded train vwhile one or more detached cars are being unloaded in the dump, these horns or stops being constructed as follows: y

Along the outsideot each rail 6 is arranged a parallel shaft, 25, journaled. in brackets, 26, bolted to the sides of the rails, and on these shafts are mounted the horns, 20, so that they may be raised or lowered by rotating about a horizontal axis.l Each horn eonslsts of a heavy, triangular, upwardly projecting part which is made integral with a downwardly extendi arm, 30, for impartmgvthe necessary plvotal movement to 1t to bring the two horns together above the rail and arrest the movement of the cars; or to spread them apart and release the cars. Each arm, 30, is connected through a yoke- 32, with one of two oppositely extending crank arms, 33, which are fixed on a longitudinal shaft, 38, in the center of thetrek, so that by the rotative movement structure is downwardly inclined lill@ of this shaft the horns are actuated and their positions controlled. There is also fixed to the end of the shaft, 38, adjacent to the rotating dump structure a segmental shaped vlever or crank arm, 40, and in the lower part of the dump below the rails, 3, is journaled an endwise sliding shaft or bar 41, adapted to extend beyond the end of the structure and engage with the crank arm, 40, in the rotation of thedump, or to be withdrawn and released from engagement therewith. The bar or shaft, 41, is mounted in journals, 42, and connected at its inner end through a yoke-ended rod, 43, a bell-crank lever, 44, and a second yoke-ended rod, 45, with a crank arm, 46, on a transverse, horizontal trigger shaft, 50, at one end of which is a trigger lever, 51, projecting upward over one of the rails, 3, and adapted for engagement by a car wheel passing over the rail to depress t e trigger and, through its movement, sli e the shaft or bar, 41,'endw1se and withdraw it from engagement with the segmental lever, 40. The operation of these parts is as follows:

It being assumed that the dump is in an overturned position and the shaft or bar 41 separated from the segmental-shaped crank A0 the horns 20 are closed, being automatica ly set through the action of a spring, 55, engaging a crank arm, 56, on the shaft, 38. In this position' also the bar, 4l, will be extended endwise throughthe action of a spring, 58, engaging against a cellar, 59, fixed on the bar, so that as the dump returns to its horizontal position the end of the bar, 41, will engage against the crank arm 40, 4and rotate the shaft, 38, to throw the orns or sto car or cars in t e train to enter the dump. As soon as the desired number of cars, ac-

" cording to the capacity of the structure,

and close the horns, 20, an

have entered the dump the fronthwheels 'of the leading car will engage the trigger lever, 51, and` depress it to WithdrawV the bar, 41, endwise from engagement with the crank arm, 40, and permit the pring, 55, to act stop the car immediately following the last one to enter the dump; means also, being rovided, as will be hereinafter 'further escribed, to withhold the trigger lever, 51, from engagement by any of the carwheels on the empty cars leaving the dump until the desired number of following loaded cars have entered the structure. When the shaft, 38, is

-rotated through theI action of the spring,

55, to set the horns, upon the withdrawal of the bar, '41, from engagement with the side of the segmental crank arm, 40, the bar slides back as soon as the carwheel has passed over the trigger, 51, and :este against the end face of the crank arin,"40, as shown 'in Figure 3, thus leaving 'the .dumpatructure free to rotate; and as soon as 'the structure open and permit the firstv each shaft, 25, is arranged to slide endwise y a small distance against the resistance of a spring, 65, coiled about the shaft and engaging against a collar, 6.6, so that the force of impact is absorbed in compressing these Springs- Within therotating dum structure is a pair of horns or stops, 70, w ich are similar in all respects to the horns or stops 20, above described, bein actuated through a pair of yoke-.ended ro s, 71, and a pair of oppositelydirected crank arms, 72, on a longitudinal shaft, 73, in the same manner as above described. Likewise these latter horns are automatically set by a spring, 78, and are opened by the engagement of a segmental lever or crank arm, 79, with an endwise slidingshaft or bar, 80, in the fixed section of the track, V10; and upon the travel of the leading pair of car wheels over a pair of trig ery levers, 85, on a transverse shaft, 86,

the ar, 80, is withdrawn in the same manner as above described to release the segmental'crank arm, 79, and permit the spring, 78,

to set the horns, 70, against the first car to 10 reach them. v

.o Referring now to the means for arresting the operation of the trigger arm, 51, so that after the release of the first em tied car by the horns, 70, the rear whee s of the same car, or the wheels of the car immedi-` ately following in the case of a trip of two 0r more cars will not actuate the trigger, 51, and set the horns, 20, until the required number of car wheels have passed;

the shaft, 50, is arranged to slide endwise u a small distance, as limited by a pair of collars, 90, to shift the trig r arm, 51, laterally out of the vertical p ane of the rail 3; so that it can not be engaged b a passing car wheel until it has been'shi ed back H5 into its position above the rail, as shown in Figure 3.` This shiftin of the trigger arm 51, is effected throug the movement of tte- Shaa 7e, above. described, which iatter is extended in length and provided with 12 a fixed, radially projectin fork, 95, engaging a collar, 96, on the s aft, 50, so `that in the movement of the shaft, 73, imparted to it through the en agement of the bar 80, with the segmenta lever, 79, on the re, 125 turn of the dump to its horizontal position the trigger arm, 51, is shifted sidewise and remains out of engagement with the assing car wheels until the first pair of w eels of the empty car or cars leaving the dump The sliding movement 70 have set the horns, 70, through their engagement with the trigger arm, 85; when the same movement of the shaft, 73, which operates the horns, 70, also shifts the trigger lever, 51,'bak into its operative position so that 'the next, Wheel to follow will engage it and set the horns, 20.

It will Athus be seen that the operation of the horns is entirely automatic. The return of the dump lto its horizontal position after an overturning operation acts to release bothpairs of horns and permit the empty car orcars to leave .the dump and the following car or trip of cars to enter it. As soon as the first empty car engages the triggers, 85, which latter are spaced a.

vdistance from the end of the dump according to the number of cars it is intended t0 handle in a single dumping operation, the hornsv,l70, are set to hold the next car approaching them, and at the same time the trigger, 51, is brought into its operative l position s o that the rear wheels on the same car will set the stops, 20, against the trainA following.A and hold them on the. grade While the detached car or cars in the trip are being unloaded. Thus the setting of the horns isjcontrolled in every case throughthe movementof the first car in a train or trip; the first loaded car entering the dump setting the, horns, 20, behind it and the first empty car leavin the dump settin the horns, 70, behin it, with the ad ition that the action .of the trigger, 51, is delayed and the actionof the second pair of horns, 20, is correspondingl delayed until after the operation 'of the rst' pair of horns, 70. After the dumping operat1on the horns are all released by the return of the track to its level position as above described.

I clainras "my invention:

1. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination withv a rotatable car dump structure having a track, with fixed, approach and receivingtracks connecting therewith, of a movable stop within the dump structure to hold a' loadedl car for dumping and a movable .stop in the fixed approach track to hold a.followin car above the dump structure, a trigger ocated in the fixed receiving track tose't the first stop upon the travel of a ca'rover such trigger, a trigger located in thedump structure to set the second stop through the travel of a following car, and means for withholding the second trigger from engagement by a moving 1 `car until after the setting of the vfirst stop.

2. In a carl unloading apparatus, the combination with a. rotatable car dump structure having a track to receive a loaded car land fixed approach and receiving tracks connecting therewith, of movable stops in the dump structure' and in the approach track above it to arrest and hold the cars, means' acting yieldingly to set both stops, means :through the movement of the cars,

acting in the return movement of the dump structure after an overturning operation to Withdraw both stops and release the cars, and means acting progressively in the movement 0f the cars, to set the stop in the dump structure and thereafter the stop in the approach track.

3. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination 'with a rota-table car dump structure having a track to receive a loaded car, and fixed lapproach and receiving tracks connecting therewith, of movable stops located respectively in the dump structure and in the approach track above it to arrest and hold the cars, means located beyond the respective stops for setting the stops and means for Withholding the setting of the second stop until after the setting of the first stop. v

4. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination With a rotatable car dump structure having a track to receive a loaded car, and fixed approach andreceiving tracks connecting therewith, of a movable stop in the dump structure and means acting yieldingly to set the same, a movable stop in the approach track above the dump structure and means acting yieldingly to set the same, means acting in the return movement of thedump structure after an overturning operation Ato Withdraw both stops and release the cars, and means acting in the movement of the cars to release both stops and permit'them to be re-set.

5,. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination with a rotatable car dump structure having a track to receive a loaded car, and fixed approach and receiving tracks connec-ting therewith, of a movable stop in the dump structure, means acting yieldinglv to set the stop, a movable part connected with the stop mechanism'and adapted to open the stop, a part located inthe stationary track adapted for engagementby the movable part in the return movement of the dump structure after an overturning operation to Withdraw the stop and release the oar. and means acting in the movement of a car to disengage the part in the stationaryr track from the movable part in the dump structure and permit the stop to be re-set.

6. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination With a rotatable car-dump structure having a track to receive a loaded car .and fixed approachv and receiving tracks connecting therewith, of movable stops in the dump structure and in the approach track to arrest and hold the cars, means acting yieldingly to set the stop in the dump structure'. means act-ing yieldingly to set the stop in the approach track, a movable part.

vin the dump structure adapted for engagellO .tlie'stop in t-he fixed approach track and adapted for engagement by a part carried by the dump structure in the return movement of the latter after an overturning operation to withdraw the stop in the fixed approach track and release the cars, means acting through the movement of a car over,

the fixed receiving track beyond the dump structure to release the movable part in the dump structure from engagement with the part located in the fixed receiving track to permit the stop in the dump structure to be set, and means located within the dump structure and acting through the movement of a car over the track in said dump structure to release themovable part in the fixed approach track from engagement with the part in the du`mp structure to permit the stop in the fixed approach track to be set. 7. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination with a rotatable car-dump structure having'a track to lreceive a loaded car and fixed 4approach and receiving tracks connecting therewith, of movable stops in l.the dump structure and in the approach track to arrest and hold the cars, means acting yieldingly to set the stop in the dump structure, means acting yieldingly .to set the stop in the approach track, a movable part in the dump structure adapted for engagement with a part located in the fixed receiving track in the return movement of the dump structure after an overturning opera-l tionV to withdraw the stop in the structure and release the cars, a movablepart located in the fixed approach. track connected with the stop inthefixed approach track and.adapted for engagement by a part carrled by the dump structure in the return movement of the latter after an overturning operation to withdraw the stop in the fixed approach track and release the cars, means acting through the movement of a car over the fixed receiving track beyond Athe dump structure to release the movable part in the dump structure from engagement with the part located in the fixed receiving track to permit the stop in the dump structure to be set, means located within the dump structure andl acting through the movement of al car over the track in said dump structure to release the movable part in the fixed approach track from engagement with the part in the dump structure to permit the sto inthe fixed approach track to be set, an means for withholding the stop setting parts located in the dump structure from. operation until after the setting ofthe first -mentioned stop.

8. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination with a rotatable car-dump structrigger located in the dump structure, means for holding said trigger from engagement byv a car, and means acting through the movement of a car further '1n advance for restoring the trigger to an operative position for engagement by a passing car.

9. In a car unloading apparatus, the combination with a.rotatable car-dump structure, having a track to receive a loaded car, and fixed approach and receiving tracks connecting therewith, of movable stops in the dump structure and in the approach track to arrest and hold the cars, means acting yieldinglv to set the stop in the dump structure, means acting yiedingly to set the the return movement of the dump structure after anoverturning operation to withdraw the stop in the dump structure and release the cars, means acting in the returnmovement of the dump structure after an overturning operation to withdraw the stop' in the approach track and release the cars, means for setting the stop in 'the fixed approach track, said means adapted to be set into motion by engagement of a moving car 'with a trigger located in the dump structure, such trigger being adapted for movement into an inoperative position, means for setting the stop in the dump structure,

said means adapted to be set into motion by engagement of a moving car with the trigger located in the fixed receiving track, and means acting through the movement of the stop in the dump structure to move the trigger in the dump structure into and out of its operative position.

10. In combination with a rotary dump and a trackway, stops on the dump, stops on the trackway at the entrance end of the dump, means for normally holding the 1'15 dum stops closed, means for normally holdlng the trackway stops closed, means for opening the dump stops and the track-i way stops upon return of the dump from dumping to loading position, means at the exit end of the dump positioned and adapted to be operated by a car leaving the dump for releasing the dump stops so as to ermit return of the same to closed positlon, and means moved into operative position by closing of the dump stops and actuated by Y a can entering the dump for releasing the trackway stops so as to permit closing ofthe same.

11. In combination with a rotary dump Y moving said dump with'said Yarm and move the same in stop` `opening direction when the dump is returned to normal position, a tripping arm connected to the dump stops for opening the same, a normally projected tripplng member on the trackway at the exit end of the dump positioned to contact with the arm connected to the dump stops so as to open said stops when the dump is returned to.

normal position, means operated by a car leaving the', dump for retracting the trackway tripping member, and means moved into and out'of operativeposition by closing and opening of the dump stops and operated by a car enterin the. dump for retracting the dump carrie tripping member, said arms being adapted to hold the tripping members retracted when the stops are closed and the dump is in normal position.

12. In combination with a rotary dump and a trackway, stops on the trackwa at the receiving end of the dump, a s aft rockably mounted on the trackway and connected to said stops for opening and closing the same, means for rocking said'shaft in stop closing direction, a segmental arm secured on the shaft, a normally projected tripping member ycarried by the dump'at the receiving end thereof and positioned to contact with said arm and rock the shaft in stop opening direction when the dump is returned to normal position, stops on the dump, a shaft rockably mounted on the dump and connected to the dump stops for openmg and closing the same, a segmental arm secured theron, a lnormally projected tripping member on the trackwa at the exit end of the dump ositioned to e struck by the arm on the s aft connected to the dump stops and to rock said shaft in stop opening direction when the dump is returned to loadln position, means operatedby a car leaving ie dump for retractin the trip member at the exit end of said ump, trip means on the dump adapted to be operated by a car entering the dump for retracting the trip member at the receiving end of the dump, and connections between the dump carried trip means and the dump stops for carried tri means into and out of operative position 1n accordance with closing and opening of the dump stops.

vdirection when the dumfp 13. n combination with a rotary dump and a trackway, stops on the trackway adjacent to the receiving end of the dump, a shaft rockably mounted on the trackway and connected to the stops, means for rocking said' shaft in stop closing direction, a segmental arm secured on the shaft at the receiving end of said dump, a tripping pin slidably mounted on the receiving end of the dump and positioned when projected to contact with said arm when the dump is returned to loading positionI and to rock the shaft in stop opening direction, means for projecting said pin, a trip shaft rock-ably mounted on the dump and slidable toward and away from one of the rails and pro vided at its outer end with an element for contact with a car entering the dump to rock said trip shaft when it is projected, connections between said pin and the trip shaft for retracting the pin upon actuation of the trip shaft by an entering car, stops mountedI on the dump, a shaft rockably mounted on the dump and connected to the dump stops, means for rocking the dump stop shaft in stop closing direction, a segmental arm secured on'said dump stop shaft at the exit end of the dump, a trip pin slidably mounted on the trackway at the exit end of the dump and ositioned when projected to be struck by t e arm of the dump stop shaft and 'to rock said shaft in stop opening is lreturned to loading position, means or projecting the pin at the exit end ofthe dump, and means 'perated' by a carleaving the dump for retracting said pin at the exit end of the dump, the Se mental arms being of such width as to hod the trip pins retracted when the stops are closed and the dump is in loadin position.

14. tn combination with a dump and a trackway, stops on the trackway at the entrance Vend of the dump, stops on the dump, means for normally holding the stopsv closed, means for opening all of said stops when the dump for releasing the dump stops so as to lpermit closing of the same, means operated by a car entering the dump for lreleasing the'trackway sto s so as to permit closing of the same, an connections between the dump stops and the means for releasing the trackway stops for moving said trackway stop releasing means into and'out of operative position in accordance with closing and opening of the dump stops.

In witness whereof, ll have hereunto subscribed my name this twenty-iifth day of February 1918.

@EOE N. SliMPSON.

dump is returned to loading posi` tlon, means operated by a car leaving thel 

